The basic way to post a link

To post a link on Facebook, go to your News Feed or your profile, click in the text box that says "What's on your mind?", paste or type the web address, and Facebook will automatically pull in a preview. Then click Post.

Facebook recognizes most web addresses automatically — you do not need to do anything special to make it work. The preview shows a thumbnail image, headline, and description pulled from the webpage itself. You can edit the text that appears in the preview, or delete the preview entirely if you want to post just the link with your own words.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds. The link will appear on your timeline and in your friends' News Feeds, depending on your privacy settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Paste any web address into the Facebook status box and Facebook will automatically create a preview with the page's image and headline.
  • You can edit or delete the preview before posting, or add your own text to explain why you are sharing the link.
  • Links posted to your timeline are visible to whoever your privacy settings allow — usually friends, but you can change this for each post.
  • If a link does not show a preview, check that you pasted the full address including "https://" at the start.

Pasting a link from your browser

The easiest way is to copy the address from your browser's address bar. On any webpage, click the address bar at the top, select all the text (or triple-click to highlight it), then press Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on Mac. This copies the full web address.

Switch to Facebook, click in the status box, and press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste. Facebook will recognize the link within a few seconds and show you a preview card with an image, headline, and description from that webpage. You can now add your own text above or below the preview, or just click Post to share it as-is.

If the preview does not appear after 10 seconds, the link may be broken or the website may block Facebook from reading it. Try copying the address again and pasting it fresh.

Editing or removing the preview

After you paste a link, Facebook shows a preview card with a thumbnail image, headline, and short description. You can change what appears in this preview before you post.

Click anywhere on the preview card to edit it. You can change the headline by clicking the text, delete the image by clicking the X in the corner, or change which image appears if the webpage has multiple images. If you want to remove the preview entirely and post only your own text with the link, click the X button on the preview card itself.

Some websites do not allow Facebook to pull a preview — in these cases, the link will post with just the address showing. This is normal and does not mean anything is wrong with the link.

Controlling who sees your link

By default, links you post go to whoever can see your regular posts — usually your friends, but this depends on your privacy settings. Before you click Post, look for the audience button (it shows an icon like a person, a group, or a globe) just above the Post button. Click it to change who sees this specific post.

Your options are usually Public (anyone on Facebook), Friends (your friends only), or Custom (specific people or groups you choose). You can also set a default audience for all your posts in your privacy settings, so you do not have to change it each time.

If you post a link to a private group or to someone's private message, only the members of that group or that one person will see it, regardless of your timeline privacy settings.

Posting links in comments and messages

You can also post links in the comments section of someone else's post, or in a private message. Paste the link the same way — into the comment box or message box, and Facebook will show a preview. The preview works the same way: you can edit it, remove it, or leave it as-is before you send.

Links in comments are visible to anyone who can see the original post. Links in private messages are visible only to the person you are messaging. If you are commenting on a public post, remember that your comment and the link will be visible to the public unless you delete it later.

Troubleshooting links that will not preview

If you paste a link and no preview appears after 10 to 15 seconds, first check that you copied the entire address. The address should start with "http://" or "https://" — if it starts with just "www", add "https://" to the beginning and try again.

Some websites block Facebook from reading their content, so no preview will ever appear. This is a choice the website owner made and is not a problem with Facebook or your link. The link will still work — it just will not show a thumbnail or headline. You can still post it with your own description.

If the link is broken (the webpage no longer exists), Facebook may not show a preview. Test the link in a new browser tab to make sure it actually works before posting it.

Sharing links from your phone

On the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, tap the status box at the top of your News Feed. Paste the link the same way you would on a computer — long-press in the text box and select Paste, or use Ctrl+V or Command+V. Facebook will show a preview within a few seconds.

The editing process is identical: tap the preview to change the headline or image, or tap the X to remove it. Tap Post when you are ready. The link will appear on your timeline just as it would from a computer.

If you are using a different app to browse the web and want to share a link to Facebook, most apps have a Share button (usually three dots or lines). Tap it and select Facebook from the list of apps. This will open Facebook and let you paste the link directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my link preview show the wrong image or headline?

Facebook pulls the preview from the webpage's code, which the website owner controls. If the image or headline is wrong, it usually means the website has not updated that information recently. You can click the preview to manually change the image or headline before posting.

Can I post a link without showing a preview?

Yes. After you paste the link and the preview appears, click the X button on the preview card to remove it. Your post will show just the link address and your own text, with no thumbnail or headline from the webpage.

What happens if I post a link to a website that no longer exists?

The link will still post, but it will not show a preview. When someone clicks it, they will see an error message saying the page cannot be found. You can edit or delete your post afterward if you want to remove the broken link.

Can I schedule a link to post later instead of right now?

On a computer, click the down arrow next to the Post button and select Schedule Post. Choose the date and time you want it to appear. On the Facebook app, this option may not be available depending on your account type.

Do people see a notification when I post a link?

Your friends may see your post in their News Feed if Facebook's algorithm shows it to them, but they do not get a separate notification unless they follow all your posts. If you tag someone in the post, they will get a notification.